Reflection Questions: Luke 20:9-19

For the message, The Cornerstone of Life given by Pastor John Ferguson
at New City Church of Calgary on February 5, 2017

These discussion questions are designed primarily to help you apply the message from the Scriptures
by helping you think through application to your personal life, your church life, and your citys life.
You can use these by yourself for reflection, or with your family or small group for discussion.
To review the sermon, go to NewCityChurch.ca/sermons

INTRODUCTION

Pray. Take a moment to pray asking God to guide you in reflecting upon the Scripture text.

Read the Scripture text: Luke 20:9-19

A summary of the sermon:

Jesus tells a parable about the murder of Gods Son. God is like a vineyard owner who entrusted his vineyard (Israel) to
the religious leaders (tenant farmers). God sent his servants the prophets to look for fruit, but the tenants beat them and
sent them away. God sends his Son, yet they kill him.

Jesus uses this teaching point to say that although the religious leaders (and by implication, Israel) would reject him, he
would indeed become the Cornerstone of Gods new world (the promised kingdom).

Key Points:

Jesus is more than just the last in a long line of prophets; he is in fact Gods Son (cf. Hebrews 1:1-2).

Though people reject him (specifically in his crucifixion and more generally in not wanting him as their Lord), Jesus
nevertheless is the Cornerstone of lifethe key piece around which our lives must be built.

Bottom Line:

Jesus did not come to bless our ideas for our personal kingdoms, but to realign them with his kingdom purposes.

Key Quotes:

Life on Mission, The reason our personal kingdoms feel so small is becausewell, they are. Jesus calls us to
repent of building our own kingdoms, which is good news because kingdom realignment is the best thing that could
ever happen to us.

1 Peter 2:4-10, As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God precious and chosen, you
yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone
chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame. So honour is for you who believe, but for
those who do not believe, The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. But you are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who
called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are Gods people; once
you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

QUESTIONS

1. How does this text speak to your life?

In what ways are we naturally like the religious leaders of Jesus day who didnt want Jesus vision of the good life
(technically called the kingdom of God)? In other words, in what ways do we want the vineyardour livesall to
ourselves?

Jesus says that God sent prophets and ultimately his son to look for the fruit of the vineyard. In what areas of your
life do you sense God wanting to see fruit?
 Read the key quote above from Life on Mission. How hard (or easy) is it for you to believe that kingdom
realignment is that best thing that could ever happen to us? What do you think that might look like in your life?

In light of this parable, how would you answer the question, What kind of me is God calling me to be?

2. How does this text speak to us as a church community?

Read 1 Peter 2:4-10 (printed above). According to Peter, what is the primary fruit that comes from a community of
faith that recognizes Jesus as the Cornerstone of life?

What would it look like for us a church community if we are to live out this text in our city proclaiming the
excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light?

What would we need to change in our lives to realize this purpose? What would we need to repent of?

3. How does this text speak to our city?

How does this passage challenge our citys vision of the good life?

How would Calgary look radically different if everybody recognized Jesus as the Cornerstone of life?

How should this inform our prayers? How should this inform our mission?

CONCLUSION QUESTION

What is the one thing you want to take away from this study to remember or to make a change in your life?

PRAYER

What are some ways you can turn what you are learning into prayer? List them as bullet points.

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